My Hiking Adventures
Ausangate trek to rainbow mountain, peru
An unforgettable experience! That's what hiking the Ausangate Trek to Rainbow Mountain provides - epic views, challenging trail, big space, and the beauty of pachamama (mother earth). The trail is a road-less-travelled in the surreal landscape of the Peruvian Andes. Along with your travel companions, you'll be in great company with herds of local alpacas and llamas.
This quickly became one of my most favourite trails. While it's only 2.5 days of hiking, there isn't a moment that disappoints. This is a high-altitude trek with three days hiking and sleeping above 4,200 masl with the highest point at 5,000 masl. The days are warm(ish) under the very bright and strong sun, but the night's are very cold. One absolute must-do on this hike - look up at the night sky and marvel in the multitude of stars and the detail in the milky way - without any light pollution, you will be awestruck by the what you see.
Trail hiked: June 2024
Total distance: 33 KMS
Days on the Trail: 3
This quickly became one of my most favourite trails. While it's only 2.5 days of hiking, there isn't a moment that disappoints. This is a high-altitude trek with three days hiking and sleeping above 4,200 masl with the highest point at 5,000 masl. The days are warm(ish) under the very bright and strong sun, but the night's are very cold. One absolute must-do on this hike - look up at the night sky and marvel in the multitude of stars and the detail in the milky way - without any light pollution, you will be awestruck by the what you see.
Trail hiked: June 2024
Total distance: 33 KMS
Days on the Trail: 3
SALKANTAY TREK, PERU
The Salkantay Trek is possibly Peru's most famous trail next to the Inca Trail. It circumnavigates Salkantay, the 15th largest mountain in Peru. It's odd that it's so popular given it's difficulty. It's not a trail for beginners. The terrain is very steep in both ascent and descent and it's very rocky. I'm glad that I did the hike because I've had several friends tackle the trail. But, if I could only recommend one trek in the Andes, I'd say this wasn't my favourite. While the accommodation is super cool, the trail is a super highway - SO MANY HIKERS, which if you like to share the trail with hundreds of people, then this is the hike for you, but if you prefer more solitude to take in the sights and space of a beautiful trail, skip this one and do the Ausangate trek instead.
Trail hiked: July 2024
Total distance: 52+/-KMS
Days on the Trail: 4
Trail hiked: July 2024
Total distance: 52+/-KMS
Days on the Trail: 4
Cinque Terre & liguria coast, ITALY
Hiking Italy's Cinque Terre has been on my wish list for a very long time and it did not disappoint. This isn't a through hike like my previous adventures but daily hikes on trails that follow the ridges and valleys on the local mountains. The views are spectacular, the seaside towns and delightful (if not a little busy, but that's the summer season) and the people are welcoming.
Trail hiked: June 2023
Total distance: 53 KMS
Days on the Trail: 5
Trail hiked: June 2023
Total distance: 53 KMS
Days on the Trail: 5
Mount Kilimanjaro, TANZANIA
Called the Roof of Africa, Kilimanjaro is one of the Seven Summits and is located in Tanzania. It rises 5,895 meters above sea level. This imposing dormant volcano attracts about 30,000 hikers annually who hike anywhere from 5-10 days to reach its summit. Because I basically live at sea level, choosing to do the 8-day Lemoshe Route seemed like the safest option to acclimatize to the altitude. It worked - on July 17, 2022, at 6:42am I reached Uhuru Peak.
Trail hiked: July 2022
Total distance: 70 KMS
Days on the Trail: 8
Trail hiked: July 2022
Total distance: 70 KMS
Days on the Trail: 8
TOUR DU MONT BLANC, FRANCE, ITALY, SWITZERLAND
Recognized as one of Europe’s premiere trails, the very popular Tour du Mont Blanc takes you into France, Italy and Switzerland while circumnavigating the Queen of the Alps. The 170 KM trail has a cumulative ascent and descent of 10,000 meters and that’s more than Mount Everest’s. Guaranteed it will challenge your stamina and endurance but it’s all that up and down that makes the trail so incredibly spectacular. Most people start and end in Chamonix France and walk anti clockwise but you can start anywhere and walk clockwise if you prefer. This official site is very helpful with loads information on the trek: autourdumontblanc.com
Trail hiked: July 2019
Total Distance: 170 KMS
Days on the Trail: 12
Trail hiked: July 2019
Total Distance: 170 KMS
Days on the Trail: 12
THE BRUCE TRAIL*, CANADA
With almost 900 KM of main trail weaving its way from the Niagara River to Georgian Bay, Canada’s Bruce Trail is the country’s oldest and longest signed trail and is a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve. It hugs the Niagara Escarpment, beginning in Queenston Park near Niagara Falls and ends in Tobermory on the Bruce Peninsula.
As this trail is basically in my backyard, I’ve decided to complete it over time vs a one-time long trek. My ambitious goal is to complete the entire end-to-end trail by the end of 2024 (pandemic pushed it back by a couple of years0. I’ve hiked bits and pieces of it over the years on day hikes but there’s something more satisfying about having an end goal, not to mention a lovely badge certifying completion to add to my collection. There are nine sections of the trail with each one looked after by a different locally run Bruce Trail Club.
I started my end-to-end journey by completing the Niagara section of the trail in May 2018. I now have 6 end-to-ends under my hiking drawstring belt (have also completed Dufferin Hi-Lands, Toronto, Blue Mountains, Niagara, Iroquoia and Caledon Hills) – only three more sections to go! You can follow my Bruce Trail journey on my blog.
Trail Sections Completed: Niagara – May 2018, Caledon Hills – October 2018, Iroquoia – October 2018, Blue Mountains – May 2019, Toronto – September 2019 and Dufferin Hi-Lands May 2023.
Total Distance Hiked: 450KMS
Days on the Trail: 16
*Complete end-to-end hike in Progress – sections remaining: Beaver Valley (August '24), Sydenham, and Peninsula.
As this trail is basically in my backyard, I’ve decided to complete it over time vs a one-time long trek. My ambitious goal is to complete the entire end-to-end trail by the end of 2024 (pandemic pushed it back by a couple of years0. I’ve hiked bits and pieces of it over the years on day hikes but there’s something more satisfying about having an end goal, not to mention a lovely badge certifying completion to add to my collection. There are nine sections of the trail with each one looked after by a different locally run Bruce Trail Club.
I started my end-to-end journey by completing the Niagara section of the trail in May 2018. I now have 6 end-to-ends under my hiking drawstring belt (have also completed Dufferin Hi-Lands, Toronto, Blue Mountains, Niagara, Iroquoia and Caledon Hills) – only three more sections to go! You can follow my Bruce Trail journey on my blog.
Trail Sections Completed: Niagara – May 2018, Caledon Hills – October 2018, Iroquoia – October 2018, Blue Mountains – May 2019, Toronto – September 2019 and Dufferin Hi-Lands May 2023.
Total Distance Hiked: 450KMS
Days on the Trail: 16
*Complete end-to-end hike in Progress – sections remaining: Beaver Valley (August '24), Sydenham, and Peninsula.
KERRY WAY, IRELAND
The Kerry Way, on the Iveragh peninsula, is one of Ireland’s hiking gems. It’s a 220 KM loop, making it one of the country’s longest trails, which begins and ends in Killarney National Park. I hiked it in the summer of 2017 and experienced Ireland’s first heat wave in 40 years!
It’s a self-guided hike, which you can do solo or with friends. I walked this trail with my sister. It’s well way-marked but you do need to pay attention to the signposts, particularly in rain and fog, which happens a lot in Ireland. You’ll see a lot of greenery and quickly realize why Ireland’s called the Emerald Isle. And you may actually start to believe in fairies. Sheep are your constant companion along the trail with their familiar Bah – the best is when you can hear the sheep but not see them because of the dense fog. Ireland is rich in history and on The Kerry Way you see so much of it – from ringforts built during the bronze age to derelict stone buildings abandoned during the Great Famine.
We completed the hike in 10 days, but did take an extra day in the middle so we could rest, do laundry, and sightsee around Valentia Island. Our trek was meticulously planned by the fine team at Wonderful Ireland Walking Holidays and I can’t recommend them enough.
Trail hiked: July 2017
Total Distance: 220 KMS
Days on the Trail: 10
It’s a self-guided hike, which you can do solo or with friends. I walked this trail with my sister. It’s well way-marked but you do need to pay attention to the signposts, particularly in rain and fog, which happens a lot in Ireland. You’ll see a lot of greenery and quickly realize why Ireland’s called the Emerald Isle. And you may actually start to believe in fairies. Sheep are your constant companion along the trail with their familiar Bah – the best is when you can hear the sheep but not see them because of the dense fog. Ireland is rich in history and on The Kerry Way you see so much of it – from ringforts built during the bronze age to derelict stone buildings abandoned during the Great Famine.
We completed the hike in 10 days, but did take an extra day in the middle so we could rest, do laundry, and sightsee around Valentia Island. Our trek was meticulously planned by the fine team at Wonderful Ireland Walking Holidays and I can’t recommend them enough.
Trail hiked: July 2017
Total Distance: 220 KMS
Days on the Trail: 10
LAUGAVEGUR TRAIL, ICELAND
Iceland’s legendary Laugavegur Trail is one of those hikes that you’ll find when you search ‘world’s best hikes’. And, it’s for good reason. The scenery is absolutely spectacular! It’s not a long hike at just 55 KM but it’s got everything from volcanos, hot springs, glaciers and glacier rivers (cold as you can imagine!). I did the hike shortly after the summer solstice and it was 24 hrs of daylight, which I never got used to. The other unique thing about the trail is the silence. There really isn’t any noise – no birds, no traffic (except the odd tour helicopter), and the only sounds come from water – gurgling from the ground, melting drops from the snow, distant thunder from glaciers breaking, or rushing rivers.
The trail is only open for a few months in the summer because the road to and from is inaccessible for the other eight months of the year. I joined a guided group tour for this one and I’m glad I did. If you’re not a well-seasoned hiker, I’d recommend it. Accommodations are simple mountain huts and so you’ll need to be comfortable sharing space with other people as you’ll be sleeping side by side, and you’ll be asked to help with cooking or clean up. My guided trek included meals and baggage transfer each night so you only have to carry a daypack. Expect a trip of a lifetime on the Laugavegur Trail! It was for me.
Trail hiked: July 2016
Total Distance: 55 KMS
Days on the Trail: 5
The trail is only open for a few months in the summer because the road to and from is inaccessible for the other eight months of the year. I joined a guided group tour for this one and I’m glad I did. If you’re not a well-seasoned hiker, I’d recommend it. Accommodations are simple mountain huts and so you’ll need to be comfortable sharing space with other people as you’ll be sleeping side by side, and you’ll be asked to help with cooking or clean up. My guided trek included meals and baggage transfer each night so you only have to carry a daypack. Expect a trip of a lifetime on the Laugavegur Trail! It was for me.
Trail hiked: July 2016
Total Distance: 55 KMS
Days on the Trail: 5
GREAT GLEN WAY, SCOTLAND
Where the West Highland Way ends, the Great Glen Way begins – in Fort William. It’s perhaps a lesser known trail than the WHW but that’s one of the things that make it great. With fewer hikers it can feel like a private hiking trail – if you like a little solitude. The 117 KM Great Glen Way follows the natural fault line of the Great Glen beginning along the Caledonia Canal and alongside the legendary Loch Ness ending in Inverness. When we arrived at the southern tip of Loch Ness in Fort Augustus we hopped on a tour boat and searched for Nessie – alas, no sightings but it was nice to step off land and see the trail high up on the hills from the water.
If you’re a history buff and/or have Scottish ancestry, you can easily get immersed in this hike because you’re basically walking where your highlander ancestors did – like stepping into history itself. You’ll also stay where the Bonnie Prince Charles did, or at least where history thinks he stayed, in any case in buildings that are almost three hundred years old so that’s kind of cool. When you arrive in Inverness, I suggest adding an extra day to go to the Culloden Battle Field (even if you’re not an Outlander fan). It’s a solemn place but highly educational and will make any experience you have in Scotland much deeper.
Trail hiked: June 2015
Total Distance: 125 KMS
Days on the Trail: 6
If you’re a history buff and/or have Scottish ancestry, you can easily get immersed in this hike because you’re basically walking where your highlander ancestors did – like stepping into history itself. You’ll also stay where the Bonnie Prince Charles did, or at least where history thinks he stayed, in any case in buildings that are almost three hundred years old so that’s kind of cool. When you arrive in Inverness, I suggest adding an extra day to go to the Culloden Battle Field (even if you’re not an Outlander fan). It’s a solemn place but highly educational and will make any experience you have in Scotland much deeper.
Trail hiked: June 2015
Total Distance: 125 KMS
Days on the Trail: 6
WEST HIGHLAND WAY, SCOTLAND
The West Highland Way is Scotland’s most popular trail. It’s a 154 KM trek that starts in Milngavie (Glasgow) and ends in Fort William. Between the start and finish you walk through fields, forest, up and down mountains, beside waterfalls, along Loch Lommond, and on 18th century military road in wide open moors. Be ready for rain – it’s Scotland after all – waterproof boots and gear are a must. Also expect all sorts of weather. We walked in June and had everything from cool mornings to bright sunny afternoons, to hail and strong winds with a high of only 5 degrees centigrade – did I mention this was summer?
My favourite part of the seven-day trek was the section from Rowardennan to Inverarnan. It hugs the forested shoreline of Loch Lommond and is a hiker’s delight with small waterfalls, bolder climbing, ladders, and meandering forest trails. We did have an extra suitcase that was delivered each day to our next destination and so we only carried essentials in a day pack. The one thing I wish we had done was take a rest day between ending the WHW and starting the GGW to give our weary legs a break. For our Scottish adventure, we went with Macs Adventures, a Glasgow-based travel company and had a great experience.
Trail hiked: June 2015
Total Distance: 154 KMS
Days on the Trail: 7
My favourite part of the seven-day trek was the section from Rowardennan to Inverarnan. It hugs the forested shoreline of Loch Lommond and is a hiker’s delight with small waterfalls, bolder climbing, ladders, and meandering forest trails. We did have an extra suitcase that was delivered each day to our next destination and so we only carried essentials in a day pack. The one thing I wish we had done was take a rest day between ending the WHW and starting the GGW to give our weary legs a break. For our Scottish adventure, we went with Macs Adventures, a Glasgow-based travel company and had a great experience.
Trail hiked: June 2015
Total Distance: 154 KMS
Days on the Trail: 7
CAMINO DE SANTIAGO/CAMINO FRANCES, SPAIN
I can’t recall exactly when I first heard about the Camino because it felt like something I had always wanted to do. Then, when my mom celebrated her 60th birthday she said she wanted to do something she’d never done before, at which time I promptly volunteered the idea that we walk the Camino. Three months later we were in Spain getting off the train in Pamplona. After a brief stop at the Iruna Cafe we started walking.
The sun shone for 28 days straight and then on day 29 the skies opened up and it poured as we walked into Santiago de Compostela. Over those 4 weeks, we got sunburned, we got blisters, we slept in albergues with strangers, we didn’t carry a cell phone (this was 13 years ago before iPhones!), we drank wine from a fountain, we shared a pilgrim meal with an Italian monk who couldn’t speak English, we watched the sunrise most days, we took a siesta every afternoon, and we carried everything we needed and nothing more. We didn’t plan where we were going to stay each night, aside from knowing what town we wanted to reach. It is one of those journeys that will stay with you forever – nine years later I’ll still catch myself saying “When I was on the Camino…”
Trail hiked: June-July 2009
Total Distance: 750 KMS
Days on the Trail: 29
The sun shone for 28 days straight and then on day 29 the skies opened up and it poured as we walked into Santiago de Compostela. Over those 4 weeks, we got sunburned, we got blisters, we slept in albergues with strangers, we didn’t carry a cell phone (this was 13 years ago before iPhones!), we drank wine from a fountain, we shared a pilgrim meal with an Italian monk who couldn’t speak English, we watched the sunrise most days, we took a siesta every afternoon, and we carried everything we needed and nothing more. We didn’t plan where we were going to stay each night, aside from knowing what town we wanted to reach. It is one of those journeys that will stay with you forever – nine years later I’ll still catch myself saying “When I was on the Camino…”
Trail hiked: June-July 2009
Total Distance: 750 KMS
Days on the Trail: 29